Chapter 1 The Four Days in the Flower Capital, Pärris, Flew By

“You've been working diligently at the Baptiste residence, and after deducting the cost of materials, all the little money you've saved has gone to feeding her. But, unusually, she might feel your work is hard and has started making breakfast for you.”

“Her skills are surprisingly good.”

“Today is the second round of the Botson Kingdom's Platinum-level Card Artisan Exam, and you were brought to the Saint Silver Vine Arena by the Baptiste family.”

“It's nearing evening now, and the exam is almost over.”

Floating in the air, the little black cat reported Lanqi's day to him.

Perhaps because it couldn't come out while Lanqi was working at the Baptiste residence, now that they were at the Saint Silver Vine Arena, which was probably Lanqi's break time, it emerged from the shadows.

The setting sun cast its rays upon the Saint Silver Vine Arena, painting the entire oval field in a brilliant orange-red hue.

Under the high, open dome, the arched spectator seats rose in tiers, the sandstone walls glowing with warm tones. The occasional clamor from the audience and instructions from the proctors could be heard.

Inside the Heavenly Defense Hall, in the Baptiste family's seating area, a jet-black sprite cat began to circle around the butler behind the wide sectional sofa.

“Holy crap, how can this cat talk?”

Kristina turned her head to look at the little black cat floating in mid-air and exclaimed in surprise.

The last time she saw this cat in the Botson Demon Realm, she thought it was magical. Now, discovering that it could actually talk made her even more astonished.

“Meow, meow, meow.”

Boss Cat looked at the blonde young lady with a speechless expression.

Wasn't it worthy of an eighth-order divine beast to speak?

You know, some fifth or sixth-order magical beasts can already speak human language.

“I'm sorry. I told it that it could come out after 5:30 PM.”

Lanqi stood behind the sofa and said apologetically to Kristina.

“It's okay, it's okay.”

Kristina was simply curious about the cat.

After the bloody arena of the ultra-ancient empire was incorporated into the Flower Capital, Pärris, it was replaced with another kind of soft, gentle fairy aura. It was hard to associate it with the bloody and cruel gladiator fights. Instead, it felt more like a silver-white refuge, even the cats seemed very relaxed.

She then turned back to look at Inoan beside her.

“Ah, if the Aquitaine Territory in the south weren't so dangerous, I would have taken you to the Baptiste family's winery. But I feel like I might have a chance to take you there soon.”

Kristina continued chatting with Inoan.

In the South Aquitaine Territory on the southern border of the Botson Kingdom, the Baptiste family had a lot of businesses, including agriculture, wineries, and processing industries. The local lord was a relative from her mother's side.

“You don't need to go. This is an adult's job.”

Kyle, the eldest son of the Baptiste family, sitting on the other sofa, emphasized to her.

“I know, Brother.”

Kristina lowered her head helplessly.

For some time to come, if the south started fighting with the Creatia Empire, for example, if the frontline commander needed to requisition their family's local inventory but hadn't discussed it with the capital, or if the war broke out suddenly and the merchants were trapped on the border and needed to negotiate with the local army, the Baptiste family would need someone with authority to go south and be responsible for coordination. If something like that happened, Kyle would definitely not let her go. Instead, Kyle, who was already in charge of part of the family business, would go himself.

“But I'm actually stronger than my brother.”

Kristina muttered.

Her brother hadn't cultivated at all and was just a zero-order ordinary person.

At least she was a second-order cultivator and a formal first-year student who had passed the Yaroran Royal Academy exam.

“Really.”

Kyle muttered unhappily, not wanting to pay attention to this carefree sister anymore.

When other families encountered this situation, they would be more than happy for someone to take their place in a dangerous place.

Only the fearless Kristina took on the family's responsibilities for her, and she wasn't grateful.

Kristina secretly made a face at her brother, looked at Inoan, and found that Inoan hadn't said anything for a long time.

Inoan was frowning, shaking her head from time to time as if she had a headache.

“What's wrong? Inoan?”

Kristina asked her with concern.

“I seem... to be from Aquitaine, on the southern border of Botson.”

Inoan murmured, holding her forehead.

Although she wasn't sure if her ID was real, the gray and white fragments that flashed through her mind made her feel like she had lived there when she was little.

“Is there... a large mountain there that is covered in white snow in the winter, connected to the mountains...”

She asked uncertainly.

“Yes, Aquitaine Mountain. It's very famous in our Botson Kingdom.”

Kristina nodded repeatedly.

“Huh? If I take you there, is it possible that it could help you recover your memories?”

She suddenly realized.

Because, as Butler Loki had said earlier, it was possible to recover memories by seeing something familiar or being subjected to intense stimulation.

Although Kristina didn't really want Inoan to regain her memories, selfishly speaking, she wanted Inoan to stay by her side forever. But if regaining her memories was an important thing for Inoan, she would definitely help Inoan.

“You’re not allowed to go. At least wait until things have calmed down a bit.”

Kyle, the young master of the Baptiste County family, immediately ordered when he heard his sister's words.

“I know...”

Kristina pouted.

“It's okay, Miss. I'm not in a hurry to find my memories. Things are very good as they are now. Please don't make Master Kyle feel embarrassed.”

Inoan quickly said to Kristina, and gave Kyle an apologetic look.

“It looks like we can't go there for the time being, but I promise you, I will definitely take you to the southern border to see Aquitaine Mountain!”

Kristina's face lit up with a smile, and she hugged Inoan, guaranteeing it.

“Okay...”

Inoan thought that the young lady’s intimate behavior was a bit improper and uneasily wanted to break free of her, but she could not win against Kristina, so she could only avert her gaze, observing the reactions of the other nobles in the distance, and softly promised.

Lanqi looked at the two of them and showed a faint smile.

With Inoan around, even if Kristina fired him, he wouldn't have to worry too much about the Baptiste family.

Although it hasn't been long, he was very happy working in the Baptiste family, or rather, he had a great time playing in the Flower Capital, Pärris.

Then, he raised his head and turned his gaze back to the holographic screen in the Heavenly Defense Hall.

On the screen, an unparalleled battle was taking place.

The artificial Shadow World simulated a shattered temple surrounded by towering colonnades of stone pillars, with intricate reliefs of divine-era creatures in battle formations carved in between. On the central altar square, two fully armored figures were engaged in a deadly duel.

One valiant and fearless warrior figure was completely enveloped in magma-like, scorching red armor, wearing a flame-iron horned helmet, his right hand raised high, holding a scarlet spear. The other figure, a three-headed, six-armed demon race clad in chainmail, wielded several weapons. His entire body seemed to be forged from pure steel.

As many spectators held their breaths and watched, the warrior in the scarlet armor suddenly swung his spear, and in an instant, streams of dazzling magma surged from the spear tip, hurling towards the demon race. The steel demon race's battle axe howled as it slashed upwards, instantly condensing countless sharp air blades on the edge, actually splitting the magma wave in its path.

The warrior didn't stop there. The surrounding ground instantly began to melt into countless pools of lava, and scalding lava constantly spewed from the surface, instantly condensing into a red giant statue about three-people tall at his feet. The demon race had already waved its battle axe, leaping into the air, striking straight for the head of the giant statue, bringing with it a spray of magma!

What was currently underway was the Platinum-level Card Artisan's second-round exam, also the main event, the "Deck Test."

The Deck Test was the most direct test of the Card Artisan's overall level. Given the imposed limitations, the Card Artisan had to create a set of countermeasure cards on the spot, and then imbue the deck into intelligent projected creatures in the artificial Shadow World, which then launched a practical simulation.

“Loki, who do you think will win?”

Kristina looked anxiously up at the butler behind the sofa.

“I don't know.”

Lanqi gave an excellent answer.

He was not an examiner; how would he know how this battle would turn out?

Or rather, if they threw him up there to participate in the deck test, he would only be able to make some weird things. He wasn’t sure if he could win or not.

Just then.

“Stop.”

A voice sounded from the audio, and then the whole artificial Shadow World seemed to freeze.

It turned out that a figure on the split screen had called a halt to the test.

A noble with white hair was remotely connected to this assessment.

He looked to be less than thirty years old.

The chief examiner, Countess Rosalinda, and the deputy examiner, Bruton, were quietly waiting for him to speak.

“Adjust the weather to create an environment that is 5% more fire-attribute friendly. Balance the basic attributes of the demon and human war puppets and increase the basic attack attributes of both sides’ war puppets; otherwise, the limit cannot be tested.”

He ordered.

“But if you choose a demon race war puppet, it is correspondingly more difficult to adapt magic cards. Adjusting the values may affect the inherent racial characteristics.”

Countess Rosalinda hesitated slightly and said to the white-haired inspector who was live-streaming on the other side of the screen.

“Do as I say.”

The white-haired inspector did not argue or explain much to her, but simply commanded.

Rosalinda took a deep breath and began to adjust according to his request.

And this Platinum-level Card Artisan Bruton, who was acting as the deputy examiner, just sat silently on the side.

Because the other party did indeed have higher authority.

“Who is this guy acting like such a big shot, meow?”

Boss Cat looked at the giant screen in the arena in confusion and asked.

“This is an inspector from the Card Artisan Association headquarters in the Canberra Kingdom in the Western Hub District. He is also a Platinum-level Card Artisan.”

Kristina turned her head to explain to the little black cat.

Although she reached out and beckoned Boss Cat twice, Boss Cat still didn't let her hold it.

“Countess Rosalinda is the chief examiner. Does she have to listen to him too?”

Boss Cat cast its gaze on the giant screen and looked at Kristina again.

In the picture, the white-haired nobleman called Loggins had long, silver-white curly hair, slightly tied behind his head, with slightly curled ends. His eyes were as bright as ice and snow, and the corners of his mouth always held a hint of condescending arrogance, occasionally writing on a magic tablet.

He had already commanded several examinations and was about to take all the authority of the chief examiner, Countess Rosalinda. Whenever the chief examiner, Countess Rosalinda, questioned an audit link, Loggins would impatiently click his tongue and start instructing adjustments.

“That's right. As long as it complies with the rules and regulations, Loggins, as an inspector from headquarters, does indeed have higher authority than the chief examiner. But the main reason this guy is commanding the examination with a look of arrogance is that he and Countess Rosalinda are not on good terms.”

Kristina continued speaking.

“Why is he so free that he can still command the examinations in the Eastern Region, meow?”

Boss Cat widened its eyes.

It felt that Countess Rosalinda was a very good person. Earlier, it and Lanqi Tata had been warmly entertained by the countess. She shouldn't have offended anyone.

“The Platinum-level Card Artisans in the Western Hub District are very sufficient. It's easy to gather three examiners; there’s no need to bother him.”

Kristina spread her hands, full of helplessness.

“He really hates Migeiya too much.”

The root cause was still Duke Migeiya.

Countess Rosalinda had indeed never offended Loggins, but Countess Rosalinda and Duke Migeiya had always had a good relationship.

So Loggins naturally hated Countess Rosalinda along with him.

It was said that Loggins was dazzling when he became a Platinum-level Card Artisan that year. Who knew that a Migeiya would appear in the relatively backward Eastern Region? Since then, he seemed to have been suppressed by Migeiya.

He still hasn't forgiven Migeiya.

“Some viewers, don't keep rambling. Don't think I can't hear you.”

A cold voice came from the screen, and Loggins' voice seemed to be cast across the screen to the Baptiste County family. Kristina was first startled, and then Kyle covered her mouth.

“Say less, Kristina. He can hear you.”

His sister really dared to say anything.

There was obviously an audio device on site that allowed Loggins, who was live-streaming from the Western Hub District, to hear the fragmented sounds in the arena.

If they offended a Platinum-level Card Artisan, their family might not even be able to trade with Gold- or Silver-level Card Artisans in the future. With one word from Loggins, he could have card artisans who didn't want to offend him add the Baptiste family to the blacklist.

“Damn idiot...”

Even though her mouth was covered, Kristina still looked at the arrogant white-haired nobleman on the screen with eyes full of hostility.

He even had to control the spectators.

Is this the boss from Canberra?

Although this Platinum-level Card Artisan in the management of the Southern Continent Card Artisan Association named Loggins made some people in their Eastern Kingdoms disgusted, there would always be a group of fanatical young female fans on the scene, even holding glittering support lights. As long as Loggins opened his mouth, they would scream.

Loggins turned a blind eye to this but liked this feeling.

After a short period of debugging, the picture changed back to the test.

The crimson magma giant statue ignored the wild axe slash, and instead slapped the steel demon race away. The steel demon race somersaulted several times in mid-air. Before landing, it saw several crimson magma meteorites falling from the sky, approaching with deafening roars.

The situation began to turn towards the crimson warrior.

But no one expected that the obsidian hidden in the demon race's arms began to bloom with jet-black flames. The ground in the entire altar area was actually blasted out by him, creating a deep ditch several meters deep, and began to turn into a curse power that returned the power of the meteorite in full.

Seeing that the attack was countered, the warrior glared angrily, and the magma armor on his body glowed with radiant light. The burning in his body became more and more intense. At this moment, countless deep gullies suddenly cracked on the altar square, and magma continued to emerge from the ground. The two sides simultaneously unleashed their final full-strength blow. Two magical powers collided fiercely, triggering a terrifying magical wave. Dazzling crimson and jet-black intertwined, and the whole picture seemed to collapse!

All the spectators saw only a burst of intense light suddenly burst out and subconsciously raised their hands to block their eyes.

When the hazy vision finally recovered, the giant screen slowly changed from pure white back to the shattered temple. The crimson warrior was already kneeling on the ground, while the steel demon race still stood tall.

At this point, the butler grabbed the floating little black cat from mid-air and placed it on his shoulder.

“Master Kyle, I should be getting off work soon.”

Lanqi bowed slightly and said beside the young master of the County.

“Oh, you can go first.”

Kyle replied.

Actually, Butler Loki's working hours ended at 5:00 PM, but he stayed with them a little longer, as if he was waiting for someone.

……

When Lanqi and Tata, who had finished the exam, reunited and walked out of the Saint Silver Vine Arena, the streets of Pärris were already shrouded in the afterglow of the setting sun.

They strolled along the sidewalk in the 6th arrondissement of Pärris, admiring the sunset on the distant horizon.

“How was it? It was interfered with by the inspector. I was worried that you would lose. I didn't expect that you didn't use your full strength at all.”

Lanqi said to Talia beside him.

“Simple.”

Talia glanced at him slightly proudly when she heard Lanqi's words that seemed to praise her.

Today's second round of assessment was relatively normal.

In the past, the number of qualified candidates in each round of the Platinum-level Card Artisan Exam was only about one-quarter to one-fifth or less.

After three rounds of screening, there were often no qualified people for two or three sessions.

This year's first round of the [Magic Industrial Principle] exam actually had most of the candidates pass, and even many candidates got high scores, which was a very special situation.

This is why the Card Artisan Association headquarters in the Southern Continent sent an inspector to supervise the examinations in the Eastern Region in real time.

“Your score in this round looks like it will be a bit higher than Karen's, but in the third round, you still need to win significantly more points than her to have a higher average score.”

Lanqi analyzed Talia.

Talia may not have seen Karen's examination process in the waiting area, but Lanqi had been following it with the Baptiste County family.

Although the average score doesn't have any practical effect, only the GPA and whether it is qualified are useful.

But what they were betting on was who would get a higher score.

“Oh? Is this a professional assessment from Examiner Lanqi?”

Talia glanced at him with interest again.

Her intention seemed to be to tell Lanqi to say more if he knew how to talk.

After today's exam, she was happier hearing Lanqi's words.

“I’m not saying anything.”

Lanqi smiled at her and sped up forward.

“……”

Talia subconsciously clenched her fists.

She felt that this guy was doing it on purpose.

“In the next round, I’ll be the examiner, so I can't have subjective tendencies. I still have to maintain an objective attitude to evaluate you at all times.”

Lanqi explained with a look of impartiality.

“Then what would it be like if you added your subjective feelings?”

Talia was curious.

So it turned out that the previous evaluations were all objective. He really and sincerely felt that she was amazing.

“Ahem, ahem, ahem, ahem.”

Lanqi suddenly coughed a few times, as if his throat was uncomfortable.

“Are you feeling uncomfortable? Why don't I cook you some medicine tonight when we get home?”

Talia immediately lightly placed her hand on his back and asked, biting her lip.

Lanqi didn't say a word, but she understood everything.

Maybe this guy really should take some medicine to cure him of his bad habit of speaking.

“……”

Lanqi started sweating.

He suddenly forgot that this woman had the power to cook. If she poisoned him, he really couldn't resist.

“Lanqi, are you okay?”

A male greeting came from afar.

“I'm fine, I'm fine!”

Lanqi quickly replied to the other party, diverting Talia's attention.

The voice was very familiar. The two looked into the distance and saw that Executioner Nigel was walking over, seemingly looking for them.

Nigel took off his military cap. His neat short hair and heroic face exuded a sense of majesty in the sunset, but he looked relatively kind to them.

“Sorry to bother you.”

Nigel said, looking at Lanqi, who was very close to Talia.

Lanqi and Talia subconsciously stood apart a bit, pretending not to know each other.

“Can we go to the coffee shop next door to chat?”

Nigel pointed to the fashionable shops on the banks of the tributary of the Celine River and asked.

He also kept observing his surroundings.

He knew that he could find Lanqi and Tata near the Saint Silver Vine Arena after the second Card Artisan exam.

At this time, he had not found anyone tracking or monitoring them.

However, in the human district, rashly monitoring an executioner was more dangerous for the enemy.

“No problem.”

After Lanqi and Talia agreed, they followed Nigel to the nearby riverside business district.

The evening glow had quietly arrived, but the night in Pärris was not cold and clear, but revealed a charming haze.

The lights of the night scene on both sides of the river were reflected on the surface of the river, like a flowing Milky Way winding through the center of the city, filling the air with a moist freshness.

In the Pärris night, Executioner Nigel led Lanqi and Talia to an open-air coffee shop.

The coffee shop was located by the river, and it looked particularly elegant under the dim street lights.

They stepped on the wooden steps embedded in the stone brick floor and walked up the path leading to the terrace on the second floor.

Several rows of white wrought iron tables were arranged under the outdoor sunshade, and the sunshade curtain swayed gently.

They sat at a table by the river on the open-air terrace on the second floor and ordered three espressos.

“Sorry, I’m still taking up your rest time.”

Nigel said.

“No, no.”

Lanqi waved his hand.

Nigel was one of the few friends they had made in the Botson Kingdom. They were more than happy to have friends ask them out.

On one side of the terrace stood tall Botson sycamore trees, and the dense canopy cast mottled shadows of lights in the evening breeze.

From here, you can enjoy the beautiful night scenery of the Celine River tributary.

The waiter elegantly served each of them a cup of rich coffee, and the rising heat dissipated the aroma of the coffee.

Nigel opened a soundproof barrier with a portable magic device.

“Do you two have free time after the last round of the Platinum-level Card Artisan exam on Sunday?”

The three began to chat about their recent situation while sipping coffee.

“Yes, we are very free after the exam is over. We plan to have fun in the Flower Capital, Pärris.”

Lanqi and Talia looked at each other, and Lanqi replied.

In fact, this trip to Botson was also coming to an end in terms of time.

According to their plan, after the proctoring of the Platinum-level Card Artisan exam was over, they would stay in the Botson Kingdom for two more days, and then they would return to the Hutton Kingdom.

Although they really wanted to play in the Botson Demon Realm for a few more days, time did not allow it.

If it was later, no one could say for sure whether the Creatia Empire in the south would suddenly start a war to the north. If they entered a state of war, it would not be so easy for them to return to the Hutton Kingdom.

“This Sunday night, I will be attending a demon race banquet in the 10th arrondissement of the Demon Realm. I always have a bad feeling in my heart.”

Nigel did not ask them for anything, but first mentioned his itinerary plan for that Sunday night, as if he was explaining his last words.

“What’s going on?”

Lanqi asked.

“According to the progress I have traced so far, this curse spreader has probably been around for more than a year. He is more likely to be a demon race than a human race. However, the residual spell that I have observed has traces of non-modern demon race magic text. Compared to these demon races in our Botson Demon Realm, he is more like an ancient demon race that just came from the Northern Continent a few years ago, so my deduction makes me feel more and more uneasy...”

Nigel took out a magic device sealing box made of mechanical cubes from the inside pocket of his jacket.

He unlocked it in front of Lanqi and Talia.

It was a piece of cloth stained with dark blue flame marks.

“This is a bit of evidence that we barely preserved from the victim after briefly fighting the curse spreader in the Demon Realm two days ago.”

Nigel explained.

Although Nigel didn't have much hope and didn't want to trouble Lanqi and Tata, these two people who could dispel the curse might be able to determine more clues than him.

He was quite sure that Tata was stronger than him, and might even have terrible strength that could face the curse spreader head-on.

Lanqi looked at Talia after hearing this.

This was really professional.

Not only a demon race, but also a native ancient demon race. No one understood it better than Talia.

It could only be said that Nigel had accidentally found a demon king to help him identify it. Maybe this was the bond of the demon race.

“Is this the man who cast the curse on Miss Lisanti at the station?”

Talia gently reached out and touched the piece of cloth, closed her eyes, frowned, and felt the residual magic power on it, and asked Nigel.

The reason why she and Lanqi were attacked on the Floating Castle Airship that day — they encountered the berserk pastry chef Lisanti — was because a mysterious man cursed Lisanti in advance.

“That's right, it's the guy in the video I showed you last time.”

Nigel nodded.

This was the most critical clue that their Elder Council execution team had obtained in recent days.

Even so, it cost the lives of many colleagues.

The other party was very strong.

If the other party had not been reluctant to fight and wanted to avoid their search, the casualties might have been even more severe.

Even Nigel could feel the terrifying higher demon race aura in the other party's residual magic power.

“The curse spreader, is it really not your Botson demon race?”

The more Talia analyzed this magic power, the more she felt something was wrong.

“No, it’s definitely different.”

Nigel firmly stated his conclusion.

“……”

Talia pondered.

While waiting for her to analyze, Lanqi took a sip of coffee for the time being.

“Have you ever seen this kind of magic and spell? Besides the surviving famous demon races during the Holy War a hundred years ago, are there any other powerful demon races left?”

He couldn't help but look at Talia and asked with his mind.

An eighth-order demon race may not be able to pass the Great Demon Race Trial and obtain a mark. Without three marks, even a ninth-order demon race could not become a Great Demon Race.

In addition, famous nobles like Sinora and Prane, after obtaining a mentality and a martial arts mark in the Great Demon Race Trial, it was easier for them to directly obtain the given mark from other Great Demon Race elders than for ordinary demon races, and they could gather three marks to become a Great Demon Race.

“I don't know every demon race, but I'm sure that the powerful demon races in our system at that time didn't have this feeling of magic.”

Talia responded to Lanqi in her mind.

If there was really such a talented ancient demon race, then she would definitely know it.

“This magic sample is more like a creature from the Calamity Wasteland.”

After hesitating for a long time, she finally added.

Lanqi and Nigel were slightly stunned.

It seemed that Nigel had never thought of this situation.

Even though Lanqi had been to the Northern Continent, he had only rarely heard this word in the Proto Empire on the Southern Bank.

The Calamity Wasteland was originally located at the end of the world and was an extremely unstable area.

Regarding its records, there were only a few picture books in the Proto Royal Library.

“I have read ancient books that record that the Calamity Wasteland on the Northern Continent is also connected to a lost land, and there may be other demon races and humans on the lost land.”

Talia explained.

Of course, this was a story from the royal family’s library before the demon race was destroyed, and it was impossible to determine whether it was true or false.

Even an eighth-order being would be in danger of death if they entered the Calamity Wasteland. They didn't know where the end was, so normal people would not go across it. "I see."

Lanqi thought to himself, not too interested. He did not care about the Calamity Wasteland, the no-man's land at the end of the world. He only cared about the possibility that Talia had proposed that "there may be another system of demon races in the world."

Nigel looked at Tata in confusion, wondering why Tata knew so much.

But he wouldn't ask too much. He knew that there was no need to explore the details of allies too much.

"Meow."

Boss Cat looked at Tata and then at Lanqi on Lanqi's lap. The dining table was silent for a while.

When they first sat down on the terrace, the street scene of the Flower Capital, Pärris, was still shrouded in a sunset.

As time passed, the light of the evening glow gradually dimmed, and the city was gradually shrouded in twilight. The sky turned a deep indigo blue, and the stars shone brightly in the night sky.

"By the way, haven't you been to the Northern Continent?"

Talia looked at Lanqi and asked.

"If the other party is a mysterious demon race who came from the Northern Continent a few years ago, then it is indeed possible that they have never heard of my name."

Lanqi murmured.

Because at that time, Loki McCarthy's legend in Proto had not yet begun.

Boss Cat didn't know what to say, but it was reminded of bad memories again.

It remembered that they didn't learn too much about the secrets of the Calamity Wasteland when they were in the Proto Empire. After all, the Proto Empire was on the southern bank, and the Calamity Wasteland was too far away, located in the far north.

However, for Lanqi, a Southern Continent person, he shouldn't be too interested in getting involved in that kind of land that was too far away. Even if there was a story with the lost continent as the stage, Lanqi probably wouldn't be the protagonist.

"No, who do you think you are? Do you think your name is a household name in the Northern Continent? I'm asking if you have heard of the other party."

Talia thought Lanqi's answer was a little funny.

"I really haven't."

Lanqi shook his head.

"But I have a friend from the Northern Continent who told me that there are indeed suspected unknown demon races hiding in the Northern Continent."

Lanqi remembered that Sigrid's letter mentioned that the Proto Empire had a northern panic back then, and the source was the appearance of mysterious demon races in the north.

"Could it really be an extremely evil demon race from the other side of the Calamity Wasteland?"

Talia wondered to herself in her heart.

"According to the ancient legends of the Demon Race Royal Palace, unknown powerful demon races once appeared and mixed into the Demon Realm. After being caught and tried, it was discovered that they came from the other end of the Calamity Wasteland. The spells and props on their bodies were extremely dangerous. Even so, they were finally let go because they didn't want to make enemies."

Talia didn't know the truth or specific details of this Demon Race Royal Secret. She conveyed everything she knew to Lanqi with her mind.

This kind of thing might only be known by her and Ifatia now.

Taking a step back, Ifatia might not know either because Ifatia didn't like reading.

"That is to say, the curse spreader in the Flower Capital, Pärris, is likely to be another, more mysterious demon race outside your system?"

Lanqi asked with his mind.

In that case, the turmoil in the northern part of the Proto Empire and the betrayal of Duke Morodian would all have cause and effect.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out."

Talia agreed.

“……”

Nigel looked at Lanqi and Tata across from him, flirting with each other for a long time, and didn’t know how they could communicate information without opening their mouths, as if they had been communicating information all the time.

He didn't dare to ask anything.

"Anyway, Nigel, Tata's appraisal result is that the other party is indeed likely to be a demon race, not a human race, and not the old demon races from the Holy War."

Lanqi seemed to notice Nigel's long-awaited gaze and told him the conclusion.

Talia's eyes twitched.

She felt that when Lanqi said "old demon race", he seemed to have emphasized the tone in an unclear way.

"I understand."

Nigel nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

Just the race of the curse spreader was already very important information.

In fact, he had suspected that his teacher, Lord Pearlman, was the curse spreader.

Because the only eighth-order demon races that matched the strength of the curse spreader he had deduced these two days were Lord Pearlman, the lord of the 10th arrondissement, and Lord Etio, the lord of the 9th arrondissement.

According to Lanqi and Tata, the suspicion of his teacher, Lord Pearlman, was greatly reduced.

And Etio, as Migeiya's follower back then, had always been the most human-friendly demon realm lord, and it was almost impossible for her to be it.

Then, in all likelihood, the real culprit who spread the curse was a mysterious demon race who had sneaked into Botson from the outside in recent years.

Its range of activities could almost be locked in the Botson Demon Realm - if the other party was a demon race, with the sudden border control mode of the Elder Council in recent days, it was likely that the curse spreader would be directly caught if they wanted to disguise themselves as a human race and cross the border to Pärris City.

The curse spreader did not expect that Lisanti would be uncursed, so she was interrogated for information, which triggered a series of countermeasures and chain reactions from the Elder Council.

“By the way, Nigel, you said you were going to attend a demon race banquet this Sunday night? Do you want us to go with you?”

At the end of the topic, they would always think of the beginning.

Lanqi remembered what Nigel had said at the beginning.

He looked like he didn't want to trouble them, but he asked them if they were free.

“I am very worried that a curse will occur at my teacher's banquet, because the curse spreader is now being carpet-searched by us in the Demon Realm, and will become more and more anxious. I am afraid that the enemy's plan is accelerating, and the final battle will break out at any time. The banquet will gather many celebrities from the Botson Demon Realm.”

Nigel explained with a bitter expression.

If a demon race went berserk and caused turmoil at the banquet, according to the rules of the Botson Demon Race, the demon race had to be killed, otherwise, it would attract the censure of the Elder Council.

Now the Botson Demon Realm and the Elder Council had a lot of disagreements, and they would not let the Elder Council seize the handle to suppress them.

Once a berserk incident occurred, Nigel was not sure whether he could persuade the other demon races present to let him take away the cursed demon race.

He might even fight with other demon races.

Because in the eyes of other demon races, they did not trust Nigel, the hound of the Elder Council. If they allowed Nigel to take away the berserk demon race, it was inevitable that they would suspect whether they would fall into the trap of the Elder Council.

The last battle with Astrothos made it difficult for Nigel to speak.

He could neither explain that the cursed demon race could now be saved, nor could he expose Lanqi's existence.

Fortunately, Lanqi now had a mature disguise as Loki McCarthy, which would not harm Lanqi's return.

Then, as long as Loki McCarthy, who could dispel the curse at any time, was by his side on the night of the banquet, even if a cursed berserker broke out, he could subdue them at the first time and cure them.

“Anyway, as long as the curse spreader chooses to cause trouble at that banquet, we may be able to persuade other demon races to help us catch the spreader by dispelling the curse on the